Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study

BackgroundRecent advancements in rehabilitation sciences have progressively used computational techniques to improve diagnostic and treatment approaches. However, the analysis of high-dimensional, time-dependent data continues to pose a significant problem. Prior research has...

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Main Authors: Clement Twumasi, Mikail Aktas, Nicholas Santoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-03-01
Series:JMIR Formative Research
Online Access:https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69150
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author Clement Twumasi
Mikail Aktas
Nicholas Santoni
author_facet Clement Twumasi
Mikail Aktas
Nicholas Santoni
author_sort Clement Twumasi
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundRecent advancements in rehabilitation sciences have progressively used computational techniques to improve diagnostic and treatment approaches. However, the analysis of high-dimensional, time-dependent data continues to pose a significant problem. Prior research has used clustering techniques on rehabilitation data to identify movement patterns and forecast recovery outcomes. Nonetheless, these initiatives have not yet used force or motion datasets obtained outside a clinical setting, thereby limiting the capacity for therapeutic decisions. Biomechanical data analysis has demonstrated considerable potential in bridging these gaps and improving clinical decision-making in rehabilitation settings. ObjectiveThis study presents a comprehensive clustering analysis of multidimensional movement datasets captured using a novel home exercise device, the “Slider”. The aim is to identify clinically relevant movement patterns and provide answers to open research questions for the first time to inform personalized rehabilitation protocols, predict individual recovery trajectories, and assess the risks of potential postoperative complications. MethodsHigh-dimensional, time-dependent, bilateral knee kinetic datasets were independently analyzed from 32 participants using four unsupervised clustering techniques: k-means, hierarchical clustering, partition around medoids, and CLARA (Clustering Large Applications). The data comprised force, laser-measured distance, and optical tracker coordinates from lower limb activities. The optimal clusters identified through the unsupervised clustering methods were further evaluated and compared using silhouette analysis to quantify their performance. Key determinants of cluster membership were assessed, including demographic factors (eg, gender, BMI, and age) and pain levels, by using a logistic regression model with analysis of covariance adjustment. ResultsThree distinct, time-varying movement patterns or clusters were identified for each knee. Hierarchical clustering performed best for the right knee datasets (with an average silhouette score of 0.637), while CLARA was the most effective for the left knee datasets (with an average silhouette score of 0.598). Key predictors of the movement cluster membership were discovered for both knees. BMI was the most influential determinant of cluster membership for the right knee, where higher BMI decreased the odds of cluster-2 membership (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.96; P<.001) but increased the odds for cluster-3 assignment relative to cluster 1 (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06; P<.001). For the left knee, all predictors of cluster-2 membership were significant (.001≤P≤.008), whereas only BMI (P=.81) could not predict the likelihood of an individual belonging to cluster 3 compared to cluster 1. Gender was the strongest determinant for the left knee, with male participants significantly likely to belong to cluster 3 (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.91-4.27; P<.001). ConclusionsThese kinetic patterns offer significant insights for creating personalized rehabilitation procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes. These findings underscore the efficacy of unsupervised clustering techniques in the analysis of biomechanical data for clinical rehabilitation applications.
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spelling doaj-art-9efeac9ad3a04d85aa12f0631bd140902025-08-20T02:56:28ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2025-03-019e6915010.2196/69150Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational StudyClement Twumasihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6817-8356Mikail Aktashttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-4010-6704Nicholas Santonihttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-7765-0160 BackgroundRecent advancements in rehabilitation sciences have progressively used computational techniques to improve diagnostic and treatment approaches. However, the analysis of high-dimensional, time-dependent data continues to pose a significant problem. Prior research has used clustering techniques on rehabilitation data to identify movement patterns and forecast recovery outcomes. Nonetheless, these initiatives have not yet used force or motion datasets obtained outside a clinical setting, thereby limiting the capacity for therapeutic decisions. Biomechanical data analysis has demonstrated considerable potential in bridging these gaps and improving clinical decision-making in rehabilitation settings. ObjectiveThis study presents a comprehensive clustering analysis of multidimensional movement datasets captured using a novel home exercise device, the “Slider”. The aim is to identify clinically relevant movement patterns and provide answers to open research questions for the first time to inform personalized rehabilitation protocols, predict individual recovery trajectories, and assess the risks of potential postoperative complications. MethodsHigh-dimensional, time-dependent, bilateral knee kinetic datasets were independently analyzed from 32 participants using four unsupervised clustering techniques: k-means, hierarchical clustering, partition around medoids, and CLARA (Clustering Large Applications). The data comprised force, laser-measured distance, and optical tracker coordinates from lower limb activities. The optimal clusters identified through the unsupervised clustering methods were further evaluated and compared using silhouette analysis to quantify their performance. Key determinants of cluster membership were assessed, including demographic factors (eg, gender, BMI, and age) and pain levels, by using a logistic regression model with analysis of covariance adjustment. ResultsThree distinct, time-varying movement patterns or clusters were identified for each knee. Hierarchical clustering performed best for the right knee datasets (with an average silhouette score of 0.637), while CLARA was the most effective for the left knee datasets (with an average silhouette score of 0.598). Key predictors of the movement cluster membership were discovered for both knees. BMI was the most influential determinant of cluster membership for the right knee, where higher BMI decreased the odds of cluster-2 membership (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.96; P<.001) but increased the odds for cluster-3 assignment relative to cluster 1 (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06; P<.001). For the left knee, all predictors of cluster-2 membership were significant (.001≤P≤.008), whereas only BMI (P=.81) could not predict the likelihood of an individual belonging to cluster 3 compared to cluster 1. Gender was the strongest determinant for the left knee, with male participants significantly likely to belong to cluster 3 (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.91-4.27; P<.001). ConclusionsThese kinetic patterns offer significant insights for creating personalized rehabilitation procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes. These findings underscore the efficacy of unsupervised clustering techniques in the analysis of biomechanical data for clinical rehabilitation applications.https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69150
spellingShingle Clement Twumasi
Mikail Aktas
Nicholas Santoni
Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
JMIR Formative Research
title Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
title_full Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
title_fullStr Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
title_full_unstemmed Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
title_short Kinetic Pattern Recognition in Home-Based Knee Rehabilitation Using Machine Learning Clustering Methods on the Slider Digital Physiotherapy Device: Prospective Observational Study
title_sort kinetic pattern recognition in home based knee rehabilitation using machine learning clustering methods on the slider digital physiotherapy device prospective observational study
url https://formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e69150
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AT nicholassantoni kineticpatternrecognitioninhomebasedkneerehabilitationusingmachinelearningclusteringmethodsonthesliderdigitalphysiotherapydeviceprospectiveobservationalstudy